Show Review: Big Sean @ The Hollywood Palladium

Featured 2 new songs & surprise guest Jhene Aiko!

I didn’t have a hard time believing that Big Sean sold out the Hollywood Palladium pretty quickly for his Red Bull Sound Select #30DaysInLA show. Many fans had stood in line for hours waiting to see the Detroit rapper, and one person even said he had been waiting since 2 o’clock in the afternoon. 2 o’clock?!

Clearly the anticipation for this show was sky high, and many people were curious to know who Big Sean would be bringing on stage as a surprise guest. Drake had been seen the night before at a Lakers game; maybe he’d remind us that he’s #blessed? It was also rumored that Kanye West might show up to support his mentee’s big night. No matter who else showed up, though, those in attendance were guaranteed a great night of music courtesy of Big Sean and Sound Select artists Finding Novyon and Mick Jenkins.

Big Sean opened his set with “Paradise” while standing on top of a very Kanye-esque LED screen that would interchange backdrops throughout the night, helping narrate his set. As the performance continued, I was reminded of how many hits Big Sean has released and contributed to. From the flow of “All Your Fault” to “Clique,” the setlist was a clear reminder that he is definitely an A-list artist.

I have to applaud Big Sean for carrying the night so well that he really didn’t need any big-name guest appearances to keep the show exciting. He did bring out Jhene Aiko for a brief cameo during which the duo performed “I Know” from Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise album. That wasn’t the only surprise Big Sean gave the crowd, though; he played two unreleased songs as a preview of what’s to come as well. Let’s just say the future is looking bright for the G.O.O.D. Music member.

Big Sean delivered an impressive 27-song set, proving his catalog can hang with the best of them. Highlight of the night for me was the previewing of two new songs, one of which was a collaboration with Future. It’s only the beginning for Big Sean, and he’s proven that he keeps on getting better. Next up, he’ll bless Europe with his talent, supporting Rihanna on her 2016 ANTI World Tour.